Study Strategies

Introduction

This Chapter introduces you to the world of ethical hacking. Ethical hacking is a form of legal hacking that is done with the permission of an organization to help increase its security. This Chapter discusses many of the business aspects of penetration (pen) testing. Information about how to perform a pen test, what types can be performed, what are the legal requirements, and what type of report should be delivered are all basic items that you will need to know before you perform any type of security testing. However, first, you need to review some security basics. That's right, as my mom always said, you must walk before you can run! This Chapter starts with a discussion of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Finally, the Chapter finishes up with the history of hacking and a discussion of some of the pertinent laws.

Note

Nothing contained in this book is intended to teach or encourage the use of security tools or methodologies for illegal or unethical purposes. Always act in a responsible manner. Make sure that you have written permission from the proper individuals before you use any of the tools or techniques described within. Always obtain permission before installing any of these tools on a network.